Why does every runner not own a foam roller?

I just bought a foam roller as advised by my PT, I have had an injured quad now for the best part of 12 weeks and after one single session the pain is almost fully away and no more tightness at all.

Never would I have thought such a simple thing would make such a difference, my PT said if I can get in the habit of using after every run for calfs, thighs, IT band and hip flexors I will reduce my likelihood of injury really signicantly.

Anyway seeing as I have good news for once I thought I would share it!

Only downside I guess is that its absolutely agony using it, way worse than I expected!

I have many foam rollers in the gyms I visit but have to say I rarely use them! Its not just the off-putting idea that other people have sweatted all over them combined with a fitness instructor I used to have letting us know how common ring-worm was in gyms (you get it through skin to sweat contact as the ringworm eggs can live in sweat and enter via any breaks in your skin) and combine that with the 4 "very rare" (GP diagnosed) skin conditions which I linked to using a very dirty well known gym chain in Central London. All conditions bar one which was linked to stress (possibly due to having the other 3 conditions) were caught via skin to skin or skin to sweat contact.

But the pain feature ! Its just too much for me! It never seems to get easier either. Back a few years ago I did try religiously using a foam roller (this was before the skin condition) but it just didn't get easier and I just stopped using it. I did notice I'd lost some flexibility but decided the pay off was something I could put up with!

They start at around £35 from what I've seen and for me thats just not affordable. I just don't have that sort of money. If I had one bought for me and some way to make it less painful then I'd reconsider but the final issue is the difficulty in actually using it. Its just so much of a strain and a huge balancing act. I'd prefer a proper sports massage!

I am a bit discouraged hearing you say it doesnt get any less painful. I done 10 minutes last night and it was agony again, infact I dont know if this is normal but I actually have some bruising appearing on my thighs ?

The upside is my legs feel brand new today after last nights hard run, but if it doesnt get any less painful I think I could lose the motivation to use it.

Another vote here for the Orange Roller of Doom (otherwise known as the Grid roller). It's a bit more expensive, but because it's made of hard plastic I reckon it will last longer. Also it's hollow so if you travel with it you can stuff it full of socks in your suitcase. As yer_maj said, made a big difference to tight legs in marathon training.

I have a foam roller, I also have a rolling pin that I use and a cat - not one of my cats but a massage thing shaped like a cat.

It's only really very painful when your muscles are tight. It's just painful after that but not prohibitively so.

I have found that nothing else works on my tight calves except for not running for a few weeks which isn't going to happen - well ok, so I'm on the injury bench again and it maybe a week before I can run.

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